Diwali and Indian television have a lot in common

Some TV shows resemble firecrackers. We leave it to you to decide whether you want to set them alight or not! Happy Diwali!

Phuljari: Devon Ke Dev... MahadevThe cracker: It glows and glows and glows. You don’t want it to stop! You can keep looking for hours. Doesn’t hurt your eyes either!Should you light it: Each character, right from the adorable Nandi to the spiteful Indra, to the different forms Parvati has taken, to when Shiva beheads Ganesha, there’s something to learn and fall in love with, every time.

Chakri: The storylines of Diya Aur Baati Hum, Bade Achhe Lagte Hai and UttaranThe cracker: These balls of fire keep going round and round and round. Should you light it: Each character in these shows faces a problem, and then some more. Sometimes it’s the same problem. Bad mother-in-law, who becomes nice, but becomes mean again. The lead couple don’t like each other. But then fall in love. And then fall out of love. And then are in love again.

Anaar: Jodha AkbarThe cracker: It has a slow, pretty insipid start. You think it won’t last. And suddenly, you see a spurt of bright colours!Should you light it: The show began on a dull note. It passed off as just another costume drama. But lately, it’s become very interesting, as has the chemistry between the lead couple (the dialogues deserve a special mention too).

Atom Bomb: MahabharatThe cracker: The atom bomb makes a big, loud boom. It’s over before you can even finish saying ‘atom bo..’ and boom! And then you wonder if it was even worth all the hype. Should you light it: It was the ‘next big thing’ to watch out for. And then it began. You can see how the epic has been butchered. None of the characters have any layers that could make them remotely interesting. It’s just not Mahabharat.

Rocket: 24The cracker: It’s the cracker you wait for till the end – when you’ve finished everything in your kitbag. And it’s beautiful, for the colours it sets alive in the dark, dark sky.

Should you light it: 24 has done just that. Each character is a different colour, adding different shades of every colour to the otherwise mundane shows on TV.

From HT Brunch, November 3

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